The tears of the
Messenger of Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) would shed. (Narrated
from Sahih-i-Bukhari, Tirmidhi, and Nisa'i )

Allah does not need, of course, to bring any witnesses, but
human beings are in a condition that the more they feel the presence of
witnesses, the more effective it is for strengthening their training and their
piety.

As the verses of the Qur'an indicate, there are many sorts
of witnesses in the Hereafter; among them are: Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA
Ta’aala (GOD): "Verily Allah is a witness over all things!" [3] The
prophets: the above verse, [4] the immaculate Imams: "And thus have we made
you an Ummah of middling stand that you may be witnesses over mankind ...” [5];
the angels: "And every soul shall come, with it a driver and a
witness." [6]; the earth: "On that Day, she will recount (all) her
news:"[7]; the time: A tradition says that: every day the time addresses
man by saying: "I am a new day and I am a witness over you" [8]; and
the limbs of the body: "On the Day when their tongues and their hands and
their feet shall bear witness against them as to what they did." [9] And,
again, we should be aware that the day of Resurrection is the Day on which the
witnesses will stand forth: "on the day when shall stand forth the
witnesses." [10

1. Prophets are some
examples for people in the world and the witnesses over them in the Hereafter.

2. It is Allah's way
of treatment that the prophet of every nation be a witness over that nation.

After the departure of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam) there should be someone with the same qualities of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) to be witness over people.

Hypocrisy As Viewed by the Qur'an:

Since hypocrisy is more dangerous than infidelity,

Thus the Qur'an has discussed hypocrisy more than
infidelity.

In its Chapter 13, the Glorious Qur'an refers to hypocrisy
and hypocrites in various forms. Besides,

The Chapter 63 of the
Qur'an has been named as `Munafeqeen' (Hypocrites) In order to indicate the
importance of paying due attention to this abominable tendency.

The fact that the Qur'an talks about the hypocrites time and
again, Is because it intends to warn the believers against the plots of
hypocrites who may infiltrate among the believers.

It may be inferred
here that the issue of hypocrisy was not confined to the early stages of Islam.

Hypocrites are present at all times in all societies

And pretend to be one with the Muslims While they are
waiting to strike from the back as soon as they find an opportunity.

Thus, hypocrites are even more dangerous to society than
known enemies,

Since it is not easy to spot, recognize or distinguish these
internal enemies from the other members of society.

It is for this very reason that Islam and Muslims have
suffered the most at the hands of the hypocrites.

And again it is for this very reason that the Qur'an has
attacked them severely, even more than the enemy.

Here, let us take a note of the following Quranic verses:

"They are the enemy, therefore, beware of them; may
Allah destroy them, whence they are turned back." (63:4)

"Now surely they themselves are the mischief makers,
but they do not perceive." (2:12)

"Surely the hypocrites are in the lowest stage of the
fire, and you shall not find a helper for them." (4:145)

One of the worst characteristics that Islam abhors is
hypocrisy.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam):
spoke about it several times,

And every time he used some graphic description that showed
how ugly and unbecoming all types of hypocrisy were.

Two Hadith in this connection are particularly interesting.

The first is put very simply by the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam):

Who wanted his audience to fully understand his purpose.

He said: “One of the worst people is a double-faced man,

Who come to one group with one face and to another group
with a totally different face?

And then he explains why he has described him as such,
showing him as though he actually had two faces.

If there are two groups with some differences, or dispute,

He would speak to each one in a way that would please them,

And say to one group the opposite of what he says to the
other.

Hence, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi
wasallam): Says that such a person is one of the worst types of people.

This is certainly true, because such a person could not be a
man of faith who fears Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD). As such, he
always seeks what he thinks to serve his immediate interests, knowing that this
will mean that he lies to both groups and at least one of them.

A similar Hadith is reported by Ammar ibn Yasir,

An early companion of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam):,

Who quotes him as saying?

“Whoever is double-faced in this life will have two tongues
of fire in the hereafter.”

A big man then passed by and the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam): said:

“This is one of
them.” (-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, - Abu Dawood, and others).

Here the Prophet
gives a more graphic description of hypocrites.

The description concentrates on the hypocrite’s tongue,

Because it is with his words that he tries to cheat people
and get the better of them.

He always says to his interlocutors what would please them,
so that he is included in their good books.

He does not care if what he says is untrue, because all that
he cares for is his own interest.

Because a hypocrite relies on lying, thinking that he could
lie his way out of any difficulty,

Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) gives him two
tongues on the Day of Judgment, but both are made of fire.

This is a horrid picture, but very apt for such a person.

One thing every hypocrite lacks is a sense of shame.

When he does something against the morality of society,

He does not feel ashamed because he thinks that he can still
get away with it, saying a few words to please this person and a few others to
please someone else.

That his words are lies does not trouble him. He has no
sense of shame.

But this sense is one
that all divine messages try to promote.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam):
says:

“Among the words
people received from early prophets are:

If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.” (Bukhari, Abu
Dawood, Ibn Majah, Ahmad and others).

This Hadith admits more than one interpretation.

The first is that if you feel you will not be ashamed for
doing what you intend to do

Because you can justify it as correct and there is nothing
in it to be ashamed of,

Then you may go ahead
and do it without hesitation.

It may be that what you are about to do is something right,

Although some people may prefer that you do not do it.

Since you are sure that it is just and fair,

Then you have nothing to answer for as a result of doing it.

You are perfectly entitled to do it.

If we prefer this
interpretation of this Hadith, then it is important to examine

What we intend to do before embarking on it.

If we find it to be perfectly acceptable and we are clear in
our conscience that it is right for us to do,

Then that is all we
need to ascertain in order to proceed with it.

Secondly, the
Hadith may be taken to mean that if a person is incapable of any feeling of
shame,

And could not care less whether he brought shame on himself,

His family or his people, then there is nothing to stop him
from doing what is censurable.

If we take this
interpretation of the Hadith, then we observe that it is phrased in the
imperative,

But it is meant as a
reproach.

It could also be said that the Hadith means that having no
sense of shame is much worse than what one may actually do.

It is important to know what may be included in having a
proper sense of shame.

Some people suggest that a shy person is incapable of
confronting others with the truth he knows.

As a result, he does not fulfill his duty to enjoin what is
right and to speak out against what is wrong.

His shyness may even lead him to the non-fulfillment of
certain rights or duties.

Such an attitude is not what is meant in having a sense of
shame in the above-mentioned Hadith.

This is simply a manifestation of weakness.

A proper sense of shame is that which causes a person to
feel afraid of being blamed for something unbecoming.

It may also lead a person to forgo what rightfully belongs
to him because he is too shy to demand it.

Hence the virtue Islam values highly is to feel ashamed as a
result of a wrong that one may do,

To be afraid of blame
for committing something unbecoming,

And to be too modest to demand something for oneself if
people may think that such a demand is made for a personal gain.

It is such modesty that the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) describes as being part of faith.

Abdullah ibn Umar RadiAllahu anhu reports that Almighty
Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s messenger (peace be on him) passed by a man
who was blaming his brother for being too modest.

The Prophet said to him: “Leave him alone. Modesty is a
characteristic of faith.”... (-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and others).

Apparently the man
who was being blamed was too modest to claim what rightfully belongs to him.

It may be very
difficult to change his attitude.

Many a person lends money to another for a specific period
of time.

When the term of the
loan is over, the borrower may take his time before settling his debt.

The lender may be in need of the money, but his modesty
prevents him from demanding repayment.

His difficulty in requesting repayment is greater than that
of the borrower in asking for the loan in the first place.

But by forgoing them, he is sure to receive a much greater
reward from Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD).

It should be added
here that the Prophet himself was a very modest person.

He is described to
have had a more refined sense of shame than a virgin in her private room.

..............Exposing the Chief of the Hypocrites

Hypocrisy and hypocrites first appeared in the history of
Islam when the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) migrated
from Mecca to Medina and strengthened the pillars of Islam.
Under such conditions, it was impossible for the unbelievers to express their
animosity towards Islam.

Thus, in order to carry out their destructive plans and
plots, they pretended to embrace Islam.

Abdullah ibn-e Ubai was the most prominent of the people of Medina, before the
arrival of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) in this
city.

The people of Medina
had agreed to appoint him as their king in order to finish the long-existing
feud between the two tribes of `Aus' and `Khazraj'.

While the preparation for his kingship were in progress, a
group of people from Medina who were in contact
with Mecca,

And went to him the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam) and swore that he had not uttered these words.

Since he was respected among his tribesmen, they came to his
support and said:

"Perhaps this boy (Zaid Ibn-e Arqram) is making a
mistake and does not remember Abdullah's words well enough!"

Thereupon life became difficult for Zaid and everyone
scorned him.

However, soon thereafter, the Chapter
"Al-Munafeqoon" was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), which says:

"They say: `If we return to Medina, the mighty will
surely drive out the meaner there from; and to Allah belongs the might and to
His Apostle and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.” (63:8)